One of the most influential contemporary American chefs, Alfred Portale, joins us to discuss his early, formative days; the Italian-American influence on his culinary sensibility; and the pleasures of opening his current restaurant, the self-titled Italian restaurant Portale in New York  City's Chelsea neighborhood. (Alfred also happens to be the chef who gave Andrew his big break, when he hired him to coauthor his first cookbook.)

And in The Line-Up, our news and commentary segment, Patricia Howard and Ed Szymanski of Dame restaurant in New York City, discuss their recent decision (also made by several other chef/owners) to require proof of vaccination for indoor diners.

And in our jobs-of-the-week segment, we share some of the great positions our sponsor Brad Metzger Restaurant Solutions (BMRS) is currently looking to fill.  (Andrew Talks to Chefs listeners are encouraged to reach out to BMRS at the special, dedicated email address created just for you at [email protected].)

Andrew Talks to Chefs is sponsored in part by meez; please check out this revolutionary new interactive recipe database and tool for professional chefs and cooks.

Andrew Talks to Chefs is a fully independent podcast and no longer affiliated with our former host network; please visit and bookmark our official website for all show updates, blog posts, personal and virtual appearances, and related information.

THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW:

Andrew is a writer by trade. If you'd like to support him, there's no better way than by purchasing his most recent book, The Dish: The Lives and Labor Behind One Plate of Food (October 2023), about all the key people (in the restaurant, on farms, in delivery trucks, etc.) whose stories and work come together in a single restaurant dish.

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Please also follow Andrew's real-time journal of the travel, research, writing, and production of/for his next book The Opening (working title), which will track four restaurants in different parts of the U.S. from inception to launch.

For Andrew's writing, dining, and personal adventures, follow along at his personal feed.

Thank you for listening—please don't hesitate to reach out with any feedback and/or suggestions!